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Abstract
This paper examines self-legitimation in selected speeches of Abubakar Shekau, the longest-serving leader of Boko Haram terrorists (BHT). The article analyses seven of the speeches Shekau delivered during his reign as the BHT leader between 2009 and 2021, using f4analyse as a coding tool and Theo van Leeuwen’s (2008. Discourse and practice: New tools for critical discourse analysis) Discourse Legitimation approach to discourse analysis. The analysis discloses that Shekau uses three legitimation strategies: authorisation, moralisation and rationalisation to justify the actions and practices of BHT. The three legitimation strategies are linguistically realised through positive self-presentation strategy by engaging in self-glorification, personalising and collectivising victory, and claiming and announcing success to legitimate the mission of the group in carrying out the struggle. The strategies are deployed to positively present Abubakar Shekau as fighting a legitimate struggle.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Critical Discourse Studies |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 20-37 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| ISSN | 1740-5904 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2026 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Research areas and keywords
- Abubakar Shekau
- Boko Haram terrorists
- Nigeria
- self-legitimation
- speeches
- Literature studies
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Social Sciences(all)
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- 1 Finished
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Georg Forster-Forschungsstipendium für Postdoktoranden (gefödert durch Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung)
Barron, A. (Project manager, academic) & Osisanwo, A. (Project staff)
01.09.22 → 31.12.24
Project: Research